Norddeutscher Rundfunk leans on Logic to make transition to IP
The German public broadcaster NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) has asked Logic for a project to modernize the NDR’s central control room in Hamburg.
Logic is a German system architect for professional moving picture solutions.
During the project phase, which lasted almost a year, Logic accompanied NDR to explore the possibilities of modernising the main control room and formulate recommendations. In NDR’s main control room in Hamburg, investments and modernisation measures are planned over the next few years to make it future-proof and to replace end-of-lifecycle technology. One part of Logic’s considerations cover whether SMPTE ST 2110, combined with SDN, can help streamline the contribution at NDR and break down the individual silos (TV, radio, online).
In this specific case, Logic set up a multi-stage project that began by interviewing and documenting the current processes and workflows within the NDR and, in a further step, critically questioning the current state. In the next part of the project, Logic developed possible new infrastructures, considering the current and potential future functions. The aim and conclusion of the consultancy project were to hand over recommendations for future infrastructures and the necessary organisational structures that can modernise the NDR in the long term.
An essential result of the project was that there is only limited added value in migrating individual areas, such as the main control room, to IP (ST 2110). The full potential of the new technology is realised when organisations don’t focus on the areas as singular “islands” but look at the interfaces or the network between the areas and implement the changes here. Haci Cengiz, SDN Consultant at Logic, explains the project: “To elicit such a process and formulate recommendations comprehensively, we take a broad look at the current circumstances. We needed to involve the NDR employees from the beginning in taking stock of the current situation and formulating a recommendation. From our experience, it is clear that such change processes can only be successful when considering the people that work with the infrastructures, occupy the workflows and operate the technology.”
